Hepatitis B Vaccine

The hepatitis B vaccine is part of the national immunization schedule and is mandatory. There are two types of hepatitis B vaccine: the first generation contains virus particles obtained from the plasma of virus donors, inactivated by the formalin; the second generation is prepared by genetic engineering method and obtained by DNA recombination technology (deoxyribonucleic acid). Both vaccines use aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant and thimerosal as a preservative. The National Immunization Program of the Ministry of Health currently recommends only the use of the recombinant vaccine, ie genetically engineered vaccine.

The hepatitis B vaccine is presented in liquid form in individual ampoules or vial with multiple doses.

Variations

Hepatitis B can also be prevented by the vaccine for hepatitis A and B.

Diseases that the vaccine prevents

Hepatitis B is the irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B infection can be transmitted by contact with blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and other body fluids from someone who already has hepatitis B infection. Most hepatitis B damage occurs because of how the body responds to infection . When the body's immune system detects the infection, it sends in special cells to fight it. However, these disease-fighting cells can cause inflammation of the liver.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects between 350 and 500 million people worldwide. Its clinical manifestations vary from infection without the manifestation of the disease with cure without sequelae to cirrhosis and liver cancer, and may also cause acute hepatitis of various degrees of severity, chronic infection without manifestation (the patient is a carrier) and chronic hepatitis. The hepatitis B virus has several genotypes, with a different geographical distribution, that are different in relation to the severity of the infection and to the tendency to cause chronic disease. Mutants have been identified, but still with restricted epidemiological expression.

HBV infected individuals express some viral markers. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) is a marker of infection and the presence of antibodies to this antigen (anti-HBs) indicates protection against hepatitis B. Titers greater than or equal to 10 IU / ml of anti-HBs confer protection against new infections.

Chronicity of HBV infection is strongly influenced by the time the initial infection occurs. It occurs in 70 to 90% of infants infected at birth and decreases progressively with increasing age, reaching 6-10% when the initial infection occurs in adults. Although there is documentation of intrauterine infection, the primary time of child contamination is childbirth, whether vaginal or cesarean.

Indications for hepatitis B vaccine

Hepatitis A and B vaccine: protect against infections The National Immunization Program currently recommends universal vaccination of children against hepatitis B. When it is not given to the neonatal unit, the vaccine should be given at the first visit to the health service. It may be given concurrently with the BCG vaccine.

Other groups prioritized for vaccination are at risk groups, comprising hemophiliacs, hemodialysis users, patients with other diseases who carry a high risk of blood transfusion, or use of blood products, health professionals and people with risky sexual behavior, who have sex with many partners and without using a condom.The vaccination of the population with zero-14 years of age in areas of high prevalence of the disease, in the form of campaigns, should be implanted and maintained every year, considering the risk of infection transmission in these regions, from the first years of life

Pregnancy can take this vaccine?

In the case of pregnant women, this vaccination is done for prevention, so it is not only allowed as it is administered during pregnancy.

Necessary doses of hepatitis B vaccine

The exclusive hepatitis B vaccine is given as a single dose in babies at birth. However, immunization against hepatitis B continues through the pentavalent vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.

Persons who were not vaccinated against hepatitis B during the first months of life may receive immunization at any time of adult life in the 3-dose schedule.

For special situations and patients, see the Special Immunobiological Reference Centers Manual on Hepatitis B Vaccine and Human Immunoglobulin.

Hepatitis B vaccine administration

The vaccine is given intramuscularly deep into the vastus lateralis muscle of the thigh; in children older than 2 years, can be applied in the deltoid region. It should not be applied in the gluteal region, since the adoption of this procedure is associated with less antibody production, at least in adults.

Contraindications

Any hypersensitivity to the components of a vaccine makes it contraindicated in addition to the anaphylactic reaction after taking When the vaccine is with attenuated bacteria or live virus, the following conditions become contraindications: congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, a malignant neoplasm and treatment with corticosteroids at more than 2 mg per kilogram per day for children and 20 mg per kilo per day for adults. Pregnant women may receive the vaccine.

Possible side effects

Injection site pain and low fever are the most commonly observed adverse events in children and adults, occurring in 1% to 6% of those vaccinated. Malaise, headache, and fatigue may occur.

Where to Find the Hepatitis B Vaccine

The Hepatitis B vaccine is available on the public and private networks. Some medical covenants cover this vaccine in the private healthcare system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there tests that can identify if we are immunized?

Live pathogen vaccines, which can cause the disease, can be identified by means of blood tests - but this is not medically relevant. This is because the only way to prove that a person is vaccinated is by not presenting the record on the card. The Ministry of Health only considers a valid vaccine the one in which the record has been properly accredited by an authorized corporation.

Can I update my vaccination card at any age?

Not only can it, as it should. Although it is best to follow the vaccination schedule and immunize at the recommended ages, it is important to take the vaccines that are delayed. However, this rule only applies to vaccines that continue to be recommended in adulthood, such as hepatitis B, tetanus, pertussis, and diphtheria. Even classical childhood diseases, such as mumps, measles and rubella, continue to have the vaccine recommendation for adults and need to be taken. However, vaccines you should have taken during childhood only, and that miss the recommendation for adults, because the risk of the disease no longer exists, do not need to be taken. One example is rotavirus, a disease that is very serious in childhood and must be vaccinated in the period, but which for adults does not cause impact beyond room, losing the need for vaccination.

If I do not remember having taken the vaccine, can I go to the clinic and repeat the dose?

Yes. The best thing to do in these cases is to check the vaccination card. But if you missed it for some reason, or thought you were vaccinated, but it is not on the record, the best thing to do is to get vaccinated, albeit repeatedly.

If I took the combined vaccine, do I need to take it individually?

Combined vaccines, such as MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) and pentavalent (triple plus haemophilus and hepatitis B), are a set of several vaccines in one , as the name itself says. When you take it, you are already properly immunized for all diseases listed in the vaccine, not needing to be vaccinated for a disease in isolation - an example would be to take the triple viral and then a tetanus-only vaccine. "However, you may be asked to take the vaccine again in isolation if there is a need to reinforce it for a time or exposure to one of the particular pathogens, such as a measles epidemic," says general practitioner Eduardo. vaccines before the given time?

No, the minimum ages must be respected. There is probably no risk of being vaccinated early, but there are no safety studies for that age group, apart from no indication of the vaccine. Age indications take into account the epidemiological recommendation, that is, the period of life in which you are most at risk of suffering from that disease or its complications. That is why some childhood vaccines no longer need to be given to adults because the risk period has passed. The logic is the same for vaccines given only in adults. "An example is the triple virus (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), that the child's immature immune system may not be enough to contain live viruses, and the child may become severely ill," says clinical practitioner Eduardo Finger. > Can I update the entire vaccination card at once?

If you are a healthy person, who does not have a weakened immune system, there is no impediment. The only problem is the discomfort of being vaccinated several times in a row. There are also those vaccines that are separated in doses, and ideally they should be respected so that the immune system's response is long-lasting.

People with a vaccine allergy will not be able to take it any more?

No Overall, it is very difficult for a person to be allergic to the vaccine itself, but to the other elements that are within it. Contraindications are available only to people who have already suffered an anaphylactic shock in the following cases: for measles, measles, rubella, and yellow fever vaccines for egg anaphylaxis, as these live viruses are cultured in the food before going to the vaccine; in cases of mercury anaphylaxis are contraindicated vaccines with this element, in general those administered by SUS; and whoever has had anaphylactic latex shock should know about the vaccines at their standard vaccination site, as some may contain remnants of the substance.

If I lose my card, will I have to vaccinate again?

Yes, because vaccine is only that vaccine that has been registered. If you take your vaccines at a private clinic, the location will likely record a history of your vaccines, so you do not have to take it again. However, the public network has not yet been able to computerize these data, so a person who is vaccinated in the public network and loses his or her card will need to take all recommended adult vaccines again.

Sources

Ministry of Health

Clinical General Eduardo Finger (CRM: SP72161), coordinator of the research and development department of SalomãoZoppi Diagnósticos.

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